NOLA.com New Orleans Saints players say its going to be tough to change on defense

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New Orleans Saints players say its going to be tough to change on defense

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; James Varney, The Times-Picayune
As it was in locker rooms across the NFL on Wednesday, the chief topic of discussion at the New Orleans Saints' facility was the major fines handed down by the league in response to a handful ...

As it was in locker rooms across the NFL on Wednesday, the chief topic of discussion at the New Orleans Saints' facility was the major fines handed down by the league in response to a handful of bone-crushing tackles last Sunday.

The Associated PressThe NFL is cracking down on dangerous hits.
After hits in Foxboro, Mass., Philadelphia and Cleveland left receivers and, in the case of Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson, defenders sprawled on the turf in a woozy state, the league announced it will crack down on high hits it deemed outside the rules and meted out a total of $175,000 in fines.

i agree with some of the comments made by the article, you are taught to wrap up all your life playing the sport. the minute you don't you become a projectile meaning a fine is coming. depending if its a shot to the head. and the best one more people miss the whole tackle trying to spearhead than wraping up and stopping the play. watered down or not i don't want to see anyones carreer come to an end, ala gay, i really think he's done forever.

When the defender goes low to make a tackle, then the ball carrier dips down to absorb the blow, does the runner get fined for causing the helmet-to-helmet? Its going to be a mess. Players will have standard court dates scheduled to plead innocent every Tuesday.

On Showtime Sports the other night they were talking about the lack of tackling drills in the NFL. Spearing has become the norm these days. The wrap up tackle is what is needed to keep this safe. They also mentioned that rugby players have the correct technique which helps keep them healthy.

There is a difference between tackling and actually launching off of one or two feet to just knock the hell out of somebody or get a first down. That is a huge force multiplier when those helmets contact. Either design a better helmet with some serious R&D or make leaping and launching illegal in any form. Personally I don't see this rule changing anything other than making blatant helmet hits a serious infraction.

You know that old fight saying, "You got to bring some to get some"? None of these guys are using their own heads as a projectile to purposely impose injury to another player. Helmet to helmet bells ring both ways. Receivers that are stretched wide open on high throws across the middle for target practice is part of the game. Throw out routes if you are scared. Licks that seperate the ball are supposed to cause alligator-arms the next time through. By no means am I condoning violence on the football field, but protecting your turf and causing an opponent to hear footsteps is a big part of the game. It could get really drawn out between the referee's judgment, the league front office review, fines, suspensions, player appeals and possibly civil suits based on the rules. I can see them making an example out of someone (else), just to set the tone for this thing.

The Ball Carrier should face as much adversity as the defender..
This is silly and it now gives bias ref's more ammo to dictate how they want the game to go..
The NFL is starting to be like the NBA with all these rules that could change a game in a "Favored" team favor.